CoTW Glazunov

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

... the Elegy Op 17 caught me sideways this morning ...

have the symphonies buried somewhere in iTunes but not listened to much if at all .... CoTW reaches the parts ......

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks, I clean forgot to tune in, being so engrossed in catching up on here. Glazunov has in my past fallen into the not-very-interesting category of composer - one left behind by modernism, so to speak, as were Medtner and Rachmaninov, but in more interesting ways; so - time for a reassessment.

[Dave2002]

Thanks, I clean forgot to tune in, being so engrossed in catching up on here. Glazunov has in my past fallen into the not-very-interesting category of composer - one left behind by modernism, so to speak, as were Medtner and Rachmaninov, but in more interesting ways; so - time for a reassessment.

The only bits of Glazunov which get a frequent outing are the violin concerto and excerpts from The Seasons. Personally I feel that Glazunov is more interesting than Medtner, the subject of a recent COTW. There is evidence, apparently, that he was very talented, plus there is Shostakovich's story about him drinking (vodka?) through a rubber tube during classes. He wrote 9 symphonies, though only the first 8 are considered complete. Some of his music goes on a long while - perhaps like Rachmaninov's, and often the main points have been aired within a few minutes, but then linger on for several more iterations. His symphonies are somewhat odd, with some beautiful moments (e.g the start of 4 and 7), some light and quick movements (scherzo of number 5) and some grotesquely bombastic moments. Some conductors manage to tame the worst excesses better than others. Like a few other composers - Bizet, Mendelssohn - he had early success, and his first symphony was written and performed when he was 16/17, with his 2nd symphony not too long after. Later symphonies are more complex, convoluted, and significantly darker in tone.

It might be interesting to hear how this COTW series develops.

[teamsaint]

... the Elegy Op 17 caught me sideways this morning ...

have the symphonies buried somewhere in iTunes but not listened to much if at all .... CoTW reaches the parts ......

Yup, a surprisingly interesting first 30 minutes..till work intervened !

[Simon]

All good stuff. I've always rated Glazunov, and these CotWs are brilliant for getting these "secondary" geniuses in to the spotlight a bit.

How fortunate for us, though, that the great Rach was "left behind" by modernism.

[amateur51]

All good stuff. I've always rated Glazunov, and these CotWs are brilliant for getting these "secondary" geniuses in to the spotlight a bit.

How fortunate for us, though, that the great Rach was "left behind" by modernism.

Sincere thanks from Rach and me too, ff.

[teamsaint]

What is a secondary genius?

Hope for us all?........

Might mention it in my next appraisal at work

[Simon]

What is a secondary genius?

Hope for us all?........

It's simply meant to refer to a composer of clearly immense musical ability who has not reached the level of fame of the very big names, for whatever reason.

But I agree ts, - there is always hope for us all!

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In case any newcomer is wondering about the Rach references that amateur has so "helpfully" noted, presumably in an attempt to be witty or something, the first referred to my partner, Rachael, and the second to Rachmaninov, this latter usage being common for pianists in particular. The context of the posts made that abundantly clear, of course...

[amateur51]

In case any newcomer is wondering about the Rach references that amateur has so "helpfully" noted, presumably in an attempt to be witty or something, the first referred to my partner, Rachael, and the second to Rachmaninov, this latter usage being common for pianists in particular. The context of the posts made that abundantly clear, of course...

Pomposity exemplified

[Bryn]

Pomposity exemplified

Of the emptiest kind, too. Rachmaninov's Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom was rejected by the church precisely due to its modernism.

[Simon]

Of the emptiest kind, too. Rachmaninov's Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom was rejected by the church precisely due to its modernism.

Ah, so Rachmaninov WAS a modernist then, because "the church" rejected something. Sorry.

[Sir Velo]

Ah, so Rachmaninov WAS a modernist then, because "the church" rejected something. Sorry.

I thought it was an accepted fact that the Russian Orthodox church initially rejected the piece due to its "spirit of modernism". Certainly, that's what the liner notes to the Hyperion recording say.